Athletic garment or the like



Oct. 14, 1952 s. N. FRlrjDLAND ET AL 2,613,360

ATHLETIC GARMENT 0R THE LIKE Filed Aug. 1s, 1951 o O .4( INVENTORS f E I9 64M/z Mie/50.44A@

BY @www ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 14, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y `f n u 2,613,366

ATHLETIC GAnMEN'rioa 'rmi LIKE Samuel N. Friedland and' Wiliiam F. Feinbloom,

Rochester, N. Y., assignors to Champion Kniti wear Company, Inc., Rochester, N. Y. Y 1' Application August 13, 13.51, Serial No. 241,582

(ci. fn-oc) 5 Claims.

This invention relates, in general. to Weeling apparel, and is directed, more particularly, to improvements in the manufacture and vconstruction of garments popularly known es sweat shirts and sweat pants which are worn by athletes and others engaged in sports and athletic activities, ortho like.

The invention deals with the fabrication of such garments of the general Character diS- closed in U. S. Patent Number 2,126,186, issued August 9, 1938, to oneof the present inventors, on an athletic shirt construction in which the knitted coursesor wales are disposed substantially horimini/allyV throughout the sleeves and body portion of the garment. Such a4 garment construction permits the desired amount of give and required stretching in and around the Shoulders and under the arms where stretching is the wales are disposed horizontally throughout the body portion thereof, the Vgarment is capable of ready lengthwise stretching after washnecessary and desirable to provide for freedom by conforming snugly to the body of the wearer after a period of use. Thus, bythis construction, a sweat shirt or jersey is especially adapted to give and stretch'in the regions Where stretching is necessary, and otherwise tends to ooni form snugly to the body of the wearer below the shoulders where close fitting is most desirable,

By reason of the said horizontal disposition of the wales throughout in the completed form of garment, there is a further most important advantage which has been found to makasuch garments so much more satisfactory and desirable from a. pradtiedlidndpfinb of better wearing qualities than the .more common type ,of sweat shirts, that they have been readily .adopted by the trade and are now in extensive use as standard equipment.` For example,i in washing the ordinary sweat shirt having verticalwales in the body portion thereof. it is Well known that due to shrinkage, the garment necessarily becomes much shorter than its original over-all length with the result that the waistband shrinks up to such extent as to be disposed sometimes around the ribs of the wearer and cannot. be stretched downwardly t0 compensate for such shrinkage and t properly about the waist of the wearer without causing tightening in the shoulders and arms of the'garment and otherwise setting up excessive strain not onlyin the Aing or ,cleaning to the extent that any improper fit due to shrinkage may be readily vovercome Y to restore the garment to substantiallyits original size, shape and form in which it snugly nts the body of the wearer in use and yet provides for freedom of movement, as aforesaid. Sweat shirtskand sweat pants must necessarily be laundered much. more often than ordinary clothing, and in the use of a sweat shirt, for example, in which the wales are disposed horizontally throughout the body portion of the garment, as aforesaid, it has been found that when the garment has been `subjected to a considerable number of washing or cleaning operations, there frequently` is more accumulated shrinkage in the widthof the garment than vis desirable or suitable for the most practical and eiicient service of the garment over a long and extended period of use.

A primary object of the inveninton,l therefore, is to provide an improved athletic garment of ythe kind described in which the wales orcourses are disposed generally horizontally throughout the body portion of the garment, forvthe :purposes and advantages aforesaid, together with expansion means in the form of gussets, or the like, adapted to compensate for any shrinkage in the width of the garment in any practical number of washing or cleaning operations. The

, arrangement is such that the aforesaid expansion means is provided in the garment Vas an integral part of the garment in the initial predetermined shape,'form and sizefthereof, yand with said expansion means adapted to yield as necessary for readily stretching the widthfof the garmentin order for the same to assume and retain its initial shape, form and size after any washing or cleaning of the garment.

Y A further object of the invention is to provide an athletic garment of this character in which the aforesaid expansion gussets are, made of elastic or yieldable `material having wales or courses extending vertically in the garment substantially normalto the horizontally disposed wales or courses of the material forming the body of the garment, such that any shrinkage in the width of the garment is adapted to be Vdirectly counteracted and automatically compensated for by said expansion gussets by way of an equal uniform expansion in direct opposition to any shrinkage in the width of the garment by reason of the said horizontal disposition of the wales throughout the body of the garment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sweat shirt, or the like, made of material in which the wales extend horizontally throughout the body of the garment together with vertically extending expansion gussets inconspicuously provided along the sides of the sweat shirt, and, more specifically, with such expansion gussets made of expansible material having wales extending vertically in rgenerally normal relation to the horizontally disposed wales of the material forming the body of the sweat shirt, or the like.

A further object of the invention is to vprovide an improved construction for sweat pants, or the like, made of material in which the wales extend substantially horizontally throughout the body vof the garment together with vertically extending expansion gussets along the sides of the legs. of the sweat pants, and, more specifically, with such expansion gussets made of expansible material having wales extending vertically in generally normal relation to the horizontally disrposed wales of the material forming the body of the sweat pants, or the like.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for sweat pants, such as just described, in which the expansion gussets are inconspicuously disposed along the inner sides of the legs of the sweat pants and in merging relation with the crotch and seat area thereof.

Y Further objects and advantages, and other new and useful features in the construction, arrangement and general combination of elements of the improved garment constructions of the invention will be readily apparent as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout, and in which: f

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a completed sweat shirt, or the like, according to the invention, with the arm portions extended, and illustrates the advantageous stretching characteristics not only vertically, but also through the width of the garment by reason of the vertically extending expansion gussets along the sides of the garment; and,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the sweat shirt, or the like, illustrated in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of an improved construction for sweat pants, or the like, in accordance with the invention, and shows the same as provided with vertically extending gussets along the inner sides of the legs of the sweat pants; and,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line IA---Il of Fig. 3 showing the construction and arrangement of the vertically extending expansion gussets along the inner sides of the legs and merging with gusset portions in the area of the crotch and seat of the sweat pants, or the like.

It is lwell known that the most satisfactory garment for use, more particularly, in athletics, training quarters, and the like, is one that fits the body of the wearer as closely and snugly as possible without retarding in any way, perfect freedom of movement of the arms, shoulders and head of the wearer. In providing for such freedom of movement, it is important that the garment snugly t the body of the wearer not only from the standpoint of appearance, but also because of the fact that loose hanging portions of the garment become a nuisance resulting in discomfort and annoyance to the wearer and otherwise present a means which may possibly be entangled with the arms or legs of another player in close quarters causing possible injury.

Garments having a close, snug t on the wearer, for the aforesaid advantages and results, par ticularlyl athletic garments such as sweat shirts and sweat pants, are readily provided by arranging the material thereof with the wales or courses of the material disposed substantially horizontally throughout the body of the garment. By way of example, Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate such a garment in the form of a sweat shirt, designated generally Ill, which is composed of a blank of material defining similar front and back body portions I2 having an intermediate neck opening I3. The blank may include integral sleeves or such sleeves otherwise may be provided as separate sleeve portions I5 in the same or a different color, for example, and united to the body portions I2 in any suitable way. The sleeves I5 are advantageously formed with enlarged arm pit portions I6 and, in the present example, such sleeves are shown as sewed or otherwise secured to the body portions I2 along the seams I8.

In the sweat shirt thus provided, the material forming the front and back body portions I2 and sleeves I5 is so arranged that the courses or wales are substantially horizontally disposed throughout said body portions and sleeves including the enlarged arm pit portions I6 of said sleeves. As illustrated in Fig. 1, this construction provides for the desired amount of give and required stretching in and around the shoulders and under the arms from the normal, unstretched configuration of the garment, shown in full lines, to the stretched condition thereof indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 1. Thus the body portion l2 of the garment is readily capable of lengthwise stretching and by the reason of the said horizontal disposition of the wales, has the most desirable tendency of reducing in circumference thereby conforming more snugly to the body of the wearer after a period of use. It will be apparent, therefore, that in this construction, a sweat shirt is especially adapted to give and stretch in the regionsv where stretching is necessary, such as the armpits and shoulders, and otherwise tends to conform snugly to the body of the wearer below the shoulders where close fitting is most desirable.

In addition, by reason of the horizontal disposition of the wales throughout the body portion I2 of the sweat shirt, the garment is capable of ready lengthwise stretching after a washing or cleaning operation in a manner to compensate for inordinate shrinkage lengthwise of the garment such that the sweat shirt readily returns to its original shape, size and form, in this respect.

While the garment is thus readily restored to its original, proper and intended length by reason of the horizontal disposition of the wales thereof, as aforesaid, it has been found, after a considerable number of washings, that, as a result such horizontal disposition of the wales, there frequently occurs a greater shrinkage in the width of the garment than may be overcome in @n easy and ready restoration of the sweat shirt to itsv normal width inthe originalsize, shape and form thereof. Inorder to overcome this deiiciency and to compensate for any such shrinkage in the width of the garment, there are provided special 'vertically extending expansion gussets 2B along the sides of ythe sweat shirt.

These vertically extending `expansion gussets 2G are provided of suitable elastic or yieldable material in which the wales or courses are disposed generally vertically in the garment and at right angles to the horizontally disposed wales in the material of the body portions'flz and sleeves l5, as aforesaid. Preferably, therexpansion gussetsv 2G are formed of ayieldable', ribbed material in a width of aboutnve `inches which has been found adequate forpractical requirements in most instances. 'lhev ribbed expansion gussets 2D are cut in suitable blanks which are incorporated in each side of the sweat shirt between the adjacent side edges ofthe body portions !2 by sewing or otherwisesecuringv the same to said side edges, aslalong the seams-22, and to the arm portions by seams 23.

The garment, thus searned and shaped, is suitably finished by the application such asl Asleeve cuffs 24, waistband 2d and a collar or neckband 28. While in the drawings separate* cuis 2li are shown, it is to be understood that the presence of such cutis is a matter of choice and that the invention is not limited to such construction since a suitable cuil may be provided from an added length on the sleeve which is folded back upon itself and stitched in such folded relation. Likewise, the use of a separate waistband 2G may be dispensed with byproviding an added length to the lower edge of the` body portion which may be then folded back upon itself and stitched togetherl with pleats, or the like, for suitably shaping and reducing the circumference of the garment in providing for a snug, close fit around the body of the wearer.

Inasmuch as the ribbed expansion gussets 2u have the wales or courses thereof disposed vertically in the garment and substantially normal to the horizontally disposed'wales or courses of the material forming the body portions l2, it is quite apparent that any shrinkage in the width of the garment is adapted to be directly counteracted and compensated forl by said expansion gussets which necessarily are capable of an equal uniform expansion in direct opposition to any shrinkage in the width ofthe garment due to the horizontal disposition of the knitted wales in the body of the garment, as aforesaid. Accordingly, by means ci such expansion gussets 2!) the:

width of the garment is adapted to readily assume a shape and form which closely approximates or is practically identical to that ci the width of the garment in. the original size, shape and form thereof. Consequently, even though there may be an inordinate shrinkage in the garment as a result of numerous washings, the sweat shirt is readily stretchable along both length and width to practically its original size, shape and form, thereby providing a sweat shirt adapted for the most elective and satisfactory service and use in the size, shape and form intended, regardless of the number of times the garment is washed or cleaned.

Figs. 3 and l show a garment in the form o a pair of sweat pants having a construction embodying the same principles and teachings of the invention described with reference to the sweat shirt of Figs. 1 and 2. r[his garment, designated generally 30, is made of two similar blanks 3| forming-the legs of the sweat pants. These blanks 3! denethe body portions ci' the garment and are united in any' suitable manner as by partial seams 33 extending from the waist at the front and back of the garment. The edges of each blank 3l are secured together at their lower ends by partial seams 35 at the inner sides of the legs 31 of the sweat pants such that the remainingV portions of the edges of` said blanks dene a suitable area forfthe vertical portions of a longitudinally extending expansion gusset lill. The arrangement is such that the body portions of the blanks 3| are imperforate 'on the outer sides of the legs 3l while the expansion gusset lis inconspicuously secured tothe edges of said blanks 3l at the `inner sides ci the legs 3l and in the crotch and seat area of the sweat pants.

In any event, `the material si forming the body portion or portions of the sweat pants has the knitted wales or courses thereof disposed substantially horizontally, as shown 4in Figs. 3 and 4;, for the purposes and advantages .described with reference to the form oi invention shown in Figs. l and 2.. Likewise, the vertically extending expansion gusset 40 is incorporated in the sweat pants of the present embodiment of the invention in a manner whereby the wales or courses of said expansion gusset 4B extend vertically in generally normal relation to the horizontally disposed wales in the body portions 3l of the sweat pants, as aforesaid. The expansion gusset til, thus provided, is prepared .as a unitary insert, or the like, formed eitherv as a-single piece of material or by two similar vertical portions lill for the longitudinal areas at the inner sides of the legs 31, and which is secured to an intermediate portion Vdill in the area ofthe crotch and seat of the garment. The lower ends of the legs 31 may be provided` with suitable cuffs or equivalent means, in the form of pleats i2 containing an elastic bandll, substantially as shown.

v Similarly, the waistband may be provided in a suitable fold 44 containing an elastic band, or draw string, or the like, 45.

With the sweat pants 30 thus constructed, it will be understood that by reason of the horizontal disposition ofthe knitted wales or courses throughout the body portions 3| of the garment, the garment is capable of ready lengthwise stretching after a washing or cleaning operation in a manner to compensate readily for any shrinkage lengthwise of the garment suchthat the sweat pants readily returns to its original lengthwise size, shape and form.

As described with reference to Figs. l and 2, in order to compensate for any inordinate shrinkage in the width of any portion of the sweat pants, the vertically extending expansion 4B is adapted to stretch as necessary to compensate for any shrinkage in the width of the garment due to the horizontal disposition of the knitted wales in the body portions 3l of the garment. The action is substantially similar in that any shrinkage in the width of any portion of the sweat pants 30 is adapted to be directly counteracted and compensated for by the expansion gusset 4i! which necessarily is capable of lan equal uniform expansion in direct opposition to any shrinkage in the width of the garment due to the horizontal disposition of the wales in the body of the garment, as aforesaid. Accordingly, by means of the expansion gusset 40, the width of the garment in all portions thereof is adapted to readily assume the size, shape and form identical to or approximating that of the garment as originally provided. Thus, all portions of the sweat pants are readily stretchable along both the length and width thereof to approximately the original size, shape and form of the garment, thereby providing for the most effective and satisfactory service and use of the sweat pants in the intended size, shape and form thereof, regardless of the number of Washings or cleaning operations to which the garment may be subjected.

While the invention has been described in detail with speciiic examples of the improved garment constructions and the method of making the same, such examples are intended as illustrations only, inasmuch as it is apparent that various modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may be provided without departing from the teachings or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by the United States Letters Patent is:

1. A garment of the cla-ss described comprising a section of knitted material having its knitted courses extending generally horizontally in the garment body such that said garment body is subject to a reduction in width when laundered or stretched longitudinally, and an expansion gusset included in said garment body, said expansion gusset being made of knitted material having knitted courses in generally normal relation to said horizontally extending knitted courses of the garment body so as to expand in a manner to compensate for said reduction in width of the garment body.

2. A shirt such as a sweat shirt, or the like, comprising a section of knitted materialhaving its knitted courses extending generally horizontally in the body of the shirt such that said body of the shirt is subject to a reduction in width when laundered or stretched longitudinally, and a vertically extending expansion gusset included in said body of the shirt, said expansion gusset being made of knitted material having knitted courses in generally normal relation to said horizontally extending knitted courses in the body of the shirt so as to expand in a mannerto compensate for said reduction in Width in the body of the shirt.

3. A shirt such as a sweat shirt, or the like, comprising a section of knitted material having its knitted courses extending'generally horizontally in the body of the shirt such that said body of the shirt is subject to a reduction in width when laundered or stretched longitudinally, and vertically extending expansion gussets provided at opposite sides of the body of the shirt, said expansion gussets being made of knitted material having knitted courses in generally normal relation to said horizontally extending knitted courses in the body of the shirt so as to expand in a manner to compensate for said reduction in width in the body of the shirt.

4. Sweat pants, or the like, comprising a section of knitted material having knitted courses extending generally horizontally through the legs of the sweat pants such that said legs of the sweat pants are subject to a reduction in width when laundered or stretched longitudinally, and vertically extending gussets included in said legs of the sweat pants, said gussets being made of knitted material having knitted courses in generally normal relation to said horizontally extending knitted courses in the legs of the sweat pants so as to expand in a manner to compensate for said reduction in width in the legs of the sweat pants.

5. Sweat pants, or the like, comprising a section of knitted material having knitted courses extending generally horizontally through the sweat pants such that the legs, crotch and seat areas of the sweat pants are subject to a reduction in width when laundered or stretched longitudinally, an expansion gusset included in said sweat pants comprising a vertical gusset portion extending along the inner side of each leg of the seat pants and merging with an intermediate gusset portion in the crotch and seat areas of the sweat pants, said expansion gusset being made of knitted material having knitted courses in generally normal relation to said horizontally extending knitted courses in the sweat pants so as to expand in a manner to compensate for said reduction in width in the legs, crotch and seat areas of the sweat pants.

SAMUEL N. FRIEDLAND. WILLIAM F. FEINBLOOM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,126,186 Friedland Aug. 9, 1933 2,230,798 Goldenstein et al. Feb. 4, 1941 2,300,667 Guignion Nov. 3, 1942 2,354,669 Donaldson et al. Aug. 1, 1944 2,356,696 Reis Aug. 22, 1944 2,554,380 Olrich et al. May 22, 1951 

